Apparatus for reinforcing and impregnating building panels



Nov. 1, 1955 J. ROBERT 2,722,197

APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING AND IMPREGNATING BUILDING PANELS Filed Dec. 17, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 1, 1955 J. ROBERT 2,722,197

APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING AND IMPREGNATING BUILDING PANELS Filed Dec. 17, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 1, 1955 J. ROBERT 2,722,197

APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING AND IMPREGNATING BUILDING PANELS Filed Dec. 17, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 j/mw Nov. 1, 1955 J. ROBERT 2,722,197

APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING AND IMPREGNATING BUILDING PANELS Filed Dec. 17, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 1, 1955 J. ROBERT 2,722,197

APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING AND IMPREGNATING BUILDING PANELS Filed Dec. 17, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 1, 1955 J. ROBERT 2,722,197

APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING AND IMPREGNATING BUILDING PANELS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 17, 1951 Nov. 1, 1955 J ROBERT 2,722,197

APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING AND IMPREGNATING BUILDING PANELS 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 17, 1951 Nov. 1, 1955 J. ROBERT APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING IMPREGNATING BUILDING PANE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 17 1951 l I l I l l I I APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING AND IMPREG- NATING BUILDING PANELS John Robert, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Globe Siding Products Co., Whiting, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application December 17, 1951, Serial No. 261,995

Claims. (Cl. 118-58) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for saturating insulating siding for building construction, and more particularly to shiplapped insulating siding which is saturated in two independent operations for accomplishing difierent degrees of saturation with respect to the shiplapped edges and the panel body of such material.

It contemplates more especially a method of and apparatus for continuously saturating insulating board siding with a hot asphalt saturant so that the shiplapped edges thereof receive an initial saturant and thereafter the entire board is again immersed in the saturant so that the proper strength and weight characteristics are acquired.

In the manufacture of insulating siding panels it is customary to shiplap panels on three or four edges. The purpose of the shiplap is to provide for an overlapping joint between adjacent panels. The thickness of the shiplap is usually half of the thickness of the panel thickness. Due to the reduction on thickness it constitutes the weakest part of the panel and being at the very edge of the panel it is exposed to possible breakage in handling, transportation, and application of the finished product. The raw board is saturated with asphalt saturant, dried in an oven, cooled, covered with a layer of asphalt coating, surfaced with granular material, impressed with a design and cooled preparatory to packaging for shipment.

The customary method consists in dipping the entire panel in hot asphalt flux oil saturant where it remains for a predetermined length of time to permit the absorption of a controlled weight or quantity of saturant. The saturant permeates only to a certain depth and does not completely saturate the panel. This would not be desirable because it would reduce the insulating capacity of the board, increase its weight and cost of manufacturing. On the other hand it is very desirable to completely saturate the shiplapped edges because they form the weakest part of the panel and are subject to damage in handling, transportation and application if they are not sufiiciently saturated. If the shiplap edges could be completely saturated in the dipping operation of the panel or in a spraying operation, the other parts of the board would also increase the weight or quantity of saturant absorbed. To obviate that undesirable characteristic. the invention involves the teaching of separating the saturation process in two independent operations: First to saturate the shiplapped edges permitting a quantity of saturant to penetrate the shiplapped edges and then dip the whole panel into a conventional saturator to saturate the entire panel. This results in the shiplapped edges of the insulating board or panel receiving a double application of the saturant, thereby increasing the rigidity, strength, and density of the shiplapped edges without correspondingly increasing these characteristics and qualities of the body of the insulating-board, which. is not desirable for the stated reasons. 1

More specifically and by way of example rather than limitation, a panel of 43%" long, 14%" wide and :thick having four shiplapped edges wide should abr 2,722,197 Patented Nov. 1, 1.95.5

sorb 1.25 to 1.50 lbs, saturant. The Weights of dry panels vary with the density of panels. The density of the panels is Weight per cubic foot of material. In the saturating process covered by one stage only, either the clipping or spraying method, the denser panel will absorb less saturant, but after leaving the saturator and subjected to pressure of squeeze rolls, it will retain more saturant in comparison to a panel which is less dense, which absorbs more saturant in dipping or spraying but will permit to squeeze out a certain excess saturant. The temperature of the saturant varies also the quantity absorbed, the length of time in which the panel is submerged or sprayed with saturant. With many variables which influence the absorption of saturant it is difiicult to saturate the shiplap fully and still maintain the specified weight of saturant absorbed.

In order to comply with the weight specifications of saturant to be absorbed and still saturate the shiplap edges, the process of saturation is divided in two component parts. The first part consists of saturating the shiplapped edges; the second part is to saturate the whole panel. As an example based on saturating 48 panels per minute a saturator embodying features of the present invention could be provided with supporting bars on 4 inch centers and extending vertically 16 feet, would permit the saturation of each shiplap edge for one minute. The number of weirs may be varied to either increasing or decreasing the volume of saturant cascading over the shiplapped edges. The temperature of saturant can be increased or decreased; usually it varies from 410' to 430 F. If the shiplapped edge is fully saturated in the cascade saturator, it will not absorb any more in the second process when the panel is completely submerged in saturant. If it is not fully saturated it will absorb more saturant in the second process of saturation. In the latter process the whole panel is being submerged to absorb saturant over its entire surface. The length in which the panel is submerged, the time it takes of being submerged, the temperature of the saturant, the melting point of the saturant, are factors which may be varied to meet the specifications of saturant to be absorbed by the whole panel.

Considering the aforesaid panel specified by Way of example, the volume of the shiplap is approximately 15.9 cubic inches, and the total volume of the panel is. 299.12 cubic inches. The shiplap volume is only 5.3% of the total volume and it is the only part to be saturated more or less fully, while the body of the panel is only: subject to'surface saturation .with a film of saturant. With that division of the saturating process in two independent steps, it is possible to acquire the necessary. control since the first step controls the saturation depth of the shiplapped edges, and the second step controls the surface saturation with a possible increase of depth or volume saturation imparted to the shiplap.

A typical panel as mentioned previously shows the following relation:

Total volume of shiplapped panel 299.12 cubic inches.

Volume of shiplap 15.9 cubic inches. Total surface of shiplapped panel 1316.88 square inches.

Surface which is to be saturated 1132.88 square with a film of saturant. inches. Exposed shiplap surface 184.00 square inches.

the baker, surface saturant is prevented from rapid chilling".

on the surface and it is permitted to remain in a fluid state so it may be absorbed in the interior of the panel. The saturant will permeate to the interior of the panel preventing wet spots on the surface. This is particularly important on the shiplap step which cannot be squeezed and has therefore a quantity of surface saturant. After passing through the baker, the panel is transferred to a cooling tower which cools the panel. After cooling, it may be processed further in various ways to provide the desired surface ornamentation and appearance thereto.

One object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for multiple saturating selected portions of insulating siding for building construction and the like in a continuity of operations to impart thereto greater strength and rigidity wherever needed to withstand handling, application, and use.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for selective multiple saturation of building materials to reinforce the peripheral regions thereof and render them more impervious to moisture and climatic conditions without appreciably increasing the cost of manufacture and the weight thereof.

Still another object is to provide novel apparatus for continuously edging building material with multiple applications of saturants while other portions thereof are unaffected therewith to provide periphery reinforced sheets of building material without appreciably increasing the cost and weight thereof.

A further object is to provide apparatus for applying saturants to sheets of building materials through a continuous cascading arrangement and procession of saturant applications to selected portions thereof.

A still further object is to provide an improved apparatus for continuously moving sheets of building materials in stepped relation along a predetermined path and applying saturants to selected exposed areas of the sheets while in movement in order to apply multiple applications of saturants thereto for reinforcing predetermined portions thereof.

Still a further object is to provide a novel apparatus for applying saturants to exposed portions of sheets of building material while moving along a predetermined path in pre-arranged formation in order to procure a multiple application of saturants on those portions of building materials that require reinforcement against handling, application, and use without appreciably increasing the weight thereof and the cost of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic side view in elevation illustrating the cascading apparatus embodying features of the present invention in conjunction and synchronized with other saturating and cooling equipment to comprise an improved method of an apparatus for controlled saturation of insulating siding panels for building construction purposes.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along line II-II of Figures 1 and 4 of the cascading apparatus embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation taken substantially along line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front sectional view in elevation of the cascading device taken substantially along line IV-IV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side sectional view in elevation of the cascading apparatus taken substantially along line V-V of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side sectional view in elevation taken substantially along line VI-VI of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of a link and carrier comprising part of the endless elevator or conveyor viewed from line VII-VII of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side sectional view in elevation of the saturant twier for impregnating end laps of the insulating siding panels taken substantially along line VIII-VIII of Figures 2, 5 and 9.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation of the twier translating mechanism taken substantially along line lX-IX of Figures 2, 4 and 8.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the panels in their relative position of descent and ascent viewed substantially from line XX of Figure 5.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic end sectional view in elevation of insulating panels viewed substantially from line Xl-XI of Figures 4 and 10 during their ascent and descent with the downpour of saturants cascading downwardly from successive panel shiplapped edges.

Figure 12 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional view in elevation taken substantially along line XII-XII of Figure 10 of a coated or saturated or partially insulating siding panel after being processed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a stationary weir of the type that provides for the flow of saturant along the long edges of a building insulating panel.

The structure selected for illustration is not intended to serve as a limitation upon the scope or teachings of the invention, but is merely illustrative thereof. There may be considerable variations and adaptations of all or part of the teachings depending upon the dictates of commercial practice.

The method is exemplified by the elements and their relation to the assembled structure selected for illustration which comprises an enlarged upright housing 10 for a saturant cascading apparatus which provides a flow of saturant over all four shiplapped edges of a building panel during its ascent and descent in the housing 10. The housing 10 can be constructed from sheet metal to conform with any particular configuration for confining and supporting saturant cascading instrumentalities to be hereinafter described. In the present embodiment, the housing 10 is suitably reinforced by a steel frame 11 that supports the housing 10 which has a lower portion 12 of substantially rectangular configuration that extends upwardly, in this instance to merge in a laterally enlarged portion 13 of substantially octangular cross section (Figure 4). The enlarged octangular housing portion 13 terminates in a vertically extending rectangular gas exhausting portion 14 that conforms in size and shape with the lower portion 12. The gas exhausting housing portion 14 converges inwardly as at 15 for communication with a chimney or other suitable exhaust instrumentalities which may vary within a wide range depending upon the dictates of commercial practice.

The lower portion 12 of the housing 10 converges inwardly to provide a reduced rectangular base portion 16 that is supported on the floor surface 17 of a building structure, but the housing 10 itself extends downwardly beneath the floor surface 17 to provide a saturant collecting chamber or vat 18 (Figures 1 and 4). The structural frame work 11 of the housing 10 is supplemented by a plurality of vertical steel members 19-20 on one side of the housing 10 and 21-22 on the other side thereof. The vertical structural steel members 19-20 and 21-22 are maintained in horizontal rigid spaced relation by means of transverse structural steel members 23-24 attached thereto just above the floor supporting surface 17. A plurality of transverse pairs of confronting and substantially U-shaped channel members 25-26 are superposed above the base transverse members 23-24 in the enlarged housing portion 13 (Figures 4 and 9) for support by the vertical structural steel members 19-20 and 21- 22, respectively. These U-shaped horizontally confronting channel members 25-26, in each instance two separate members, extend for the entire span between the outer vertical supports or standards 19-20 and 21-22. These extend through and beyond the enlarged housing portion 13 to support spaced steel tracks 27-28 (Figures 4 and 9) to guide weir translating mechanisms that are reciproca'ble thereon as will appear more fully hereinafter.

As shown, the parallel spaced transverse tracks 27-28 on each side of the housing 10 are supported by the confronting pairs of channel members -26, and these tracks 27-28 have superposed and vertically aligned confronting tracks 29-30 which are maintained in vertical spaced relation by means of frame members 31-32. The confronting tracks 27-29 and 28-30 are fixed to the frame members 31-32 to receive pairs of complemental wheels 33-34 for journaled support on carriage frames 35-36 through the medium of shafts 37-38 to comprise transversely movable and displaceable carriage frames 35-36 which approach and recede from each other in the enlarged and octagonal portion '13 by means of instrumentalities to be hereinafter described. It should be observed that the confronting pairs of substantially U-shaped channel members 25-26 are horizontally offset from each other (Figure 2) so that they will enter the housing 10 through outwardly offset projections 39-40 provided as a part of the housing 10 in order to confine the carriages 35-36 within the octangular portion 13 thereof.

The confronting pairs of carriage supporting channels 25-26 and their frame members 31-32 are rigidly attached to inclined and parallel spaced structural pairs of members 41-42 and 43-44, respectively that are crossbraced by means of a plurality of horizontal brackets 45-45'46 and 4747'-48, in this instance three on each unit, vertically spaced to, in turn, support a plurality of superposed saturant confining weirs 49-50-51 and 52-5354. Each series of weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54, are, therefore, movable as a unit with the carriages 35 and 36, respectively. The pairs of structural members 41-42 and 43-44 are inclined to correspond with the inclination of an endless conveyor for supporting reciprocable weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 along the descending and ascending stretches thereof as will more fully appear hereinafter. As shown, the weirs 49-50- 51 and 52-53-54 each have an inwardly offset and vertically reduced flow spout 55 (Figure 9) that extends sub- Stantially for the width of the weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 to define an elongated horizontal discharge opening 56 therein commensurate in width with the shiplapped opposite end edges 57-58 of insulating siding panels 59. The panels 59 also are provided with oppositely shiplapped edges 60-61 (Figure 10) which are covered with saturant from a series of superposed stepped weirs 62-63-64 and 65-66-67 (Figure 5) each supported by brackets 68 fixed to the framework 11 of the housing .10.

The weirs 62-63-64 are disposed forwardly of an endless conveyor 69 composed of two separate endless chains to links 70 which have a series of link rods 71 extending therethrough to comprise a flexible endless chain conveyor that meshes with sprocket wheels 72-73 and 74-75 disposed in horizontal pairs of shafts 76-77 and 78-79 supported by oppositely disposed and horizontally aligned bearings 80-81. The bearings 80-81 are fixed to the framework 11 outside of the housing 10 to support the shafts 76-77 proximate to the floor surface 17 while the shafts 78-79 are supported proximate to the upper end of the housing 10 in the reduced uppermost region 14 thereof (Figures 4 and 5). The upper pairs of shafts 78-7-9 are rearwardly oifset relatively to the lower pairs of shafts 76-77 to impart a slight inclination varying between five degrees and twenty degrees or more (to the vertical) to incline the ascending and descending stretches of the endless conveyor 69 depending upon the width of the shiplapped edges, thereby conforming the inclined stretches paths of the conveyor 69 with the stepped relationship of the stationary weirs 62-63-64 and '6'5-66-67 which are respectively positioned forwardly of the ascending and descending stretches of the conveyor 69 (Figure 5). The stationary weirs 62-63-64 and 65-66-67 are supplied with saturant through valved branch pipes 82-83-84 and 85-86-87 that respectively communicate with supply pipes 88 and .89 that are connected to a supply pipe line 90 that communicates with a pump 91 having its intake 92 communicating with a saturant supply reservoir 93 through a pipe 94.

The reservoir 93 operatively connects to another pump 95 that communicates therethrough with a pipe 96, and the pump intake 97 communicates with the vat or drip chamber 18 at the bottom of the housing 10. The pump 95, in turn, returns the saturant from the vat 18 to the reservoir 93 so that the excess saturant can be reheated in the reservoir 93 and reused to flow over the shiplapped panel edges 57-58 and 60-61 (Figure 10). The saturant can thus be supplied under pressure to the weirs 49-50-51, 52-53-54, 62-63-64 and 65-66-67 and these in turn cascade the saturant over the edges of the insulating siding panels 59 as they are successively conveyed through the housing 10. To this end, the panels 59 are disposed on horizontally extending rods 98, in this instance spaced three across, for anchored connection with transverse plates 99 fixed by means of fasteners 100 to each pair of links 70 of the endless conveyor 69 (Figure 7). The saturant flows from the weirs 62-63-64 to submerge the shiplapped edges 60 during the ascent and the opposite shiplapped edges 61 during the descent by the flow of the saturant from the weirs 65-66-67, respectively, as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure '11 so that the saturant will cascade from the upper panels down to the lower panels and thus cover all of the edges in a steady downward flow or stream of saturant. This provides for the superfluous saturant to flow down into the bottom collector housing vat 18 which also receives a drip from the panels 59 as they transverse the path defined by the endless conveyor 69. i

This provides more than the required saturant for the siding shiplapped edges as the panels 59 are carried by the endless conveyor 69 upwardly and then downwardly. However, the opposite end shiplapped edges 57-58 are also coated by the flow of saturant from the reciprocable weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 (Figures 4 and 9) supported by the cross-braces 45-45'-46 and 47-47-48 fixed to the carriages 35-36 through the inclined structural members 41-42' and 43-44 so that the weirs 49- 50-51 and 52-53-54 will approach and recede relative to each other to discharge the saturant over the short shiplapped edges ,57-58 of the insulating siding panels 29. To the end of supplying saturant to the reciprocable weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 suitable flexible pipes 101 that communicate with a rigid inlet pipe 102 that, in turn, communicate with the weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 (Figure 9), thereby keeping the weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 filled and providing for the discharge of the saturant therefrom through the elongated protruding spouts 56 (Figure 8) therein to insure that all the short and long shiplapped edges 57-58 and 60-61, respectively, of the insulating siding panels 59 are coated with hot saturant during the ascent and descent of the endless conveyor 69 in a more or less vertical and somewhat inclined direction within the upright housing 10. The saturant is maintained at an elevated temperature by means of any suitable heater provided in or around the saturant reservoir 93 (Figure 5).

This will provide for the preliminary coating or at least partial saturation of the shiplapped edges 57-58 and 60-61 of the insulated siding 59 preparatory to the total immersion thereof in a horizontal saturator to be hereinafter described. It should be noted that the brackets 41-42 and 43-44 that support the reciprocable -weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 are forwardly mounted of the horizontally reciprocating carriages 35-36 through bearing brackets 104-105 so that these weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 will be positioned in the inclined ascending and descending paths of the endless conveyor 69 for alignment with the shiplapped panel edges 57-58 as the panels 59 are carried along the path traversed by the con veyor 69. The weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 are transversely reciprocated so that the projecting spouts 56 of these weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 will be momentarily disposed over the short shiplapped panel edges 57-58 for the deposit of the saturant thereon.

In order to avoid obstruction by the weir spouts 56 to the moving panels 59, however, the reciprocable weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 must be immediately returned from the path of the panels 59 before there is any engagement therewith. and this is accomplished by the rapid reciprocation of the carriages 35-36 through power operated crank arms 106-107 pivotally mounted as at 108-109 to carriage blocks 110-111.. The other extremities of the crank arms 106-107 are operatively connected to a crank arm 112-113 which rotatively engages an eccentric 114-115 carried by the circular yokes 116-117 comprising part of the crank arm mechanism 112113. The crank arms 112113 comprise the stub shafts of sprocket wheels 118-119 fixed for rotation with the crank arms 112113 for support in spaced bearings 120-121 mounted on the horizontally fixed projecting frame members 25-26 (Figure 2). Endless chains 122-123 mesh with the sprocket wheels 118-119 and in turn engage sprocket wheels 124-125 carried by stub shafts 126-127. The stub shafts 126-127 are mounted in space bearings 128-129-130 and 131-132-133 carried by the transverse projecting frame members 25-26 and an additional horizontally extending bracket 134-135 projecting from each side of the housing frame 11 to rotatively support the comparatively long stub shafts 126-127.

The stub shafts 126-127 are driven by a sprocket wheel 136 that meshes with a sprocket chain 137 connected to a source of power such as an electric motor (not shown). The stub shaft 127 in turn carries another sprocket wheel 138 which has a horizontal endless chain 139 meshing therewith to engage a sprocket wheel 140 carried by the shaft 126 so that the latter will rotate in unison with the stub shaft 127 and both reciprocable carriages 35-36 will approach and recede from each other in timed uniform relation to present the weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 in between the successive panels 59 to momentarily overhang the shiplapped end edges 57-58 thereof to coat the edges with the saturant flowing from these reciprocable weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54. The endless conveyor 69 which carries the panels 59 along an inclined ascent and descent, is driven by an external sprocket wheel 141 fixed to the conveyor shaft 76 (Figure 4) to mesh with a chain 142 for connection in turn with a sprocket shaft (not shown) that is power driven from the main driven shaft 127 so that the conveyor 69 moves in timed unison with the reciprocation of the carriages 35-36 to insure proper timing therebetween so that the reciprocable weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 will project beyond the end shiplapped panel edges 57-58 while they are displaced between the panels 59 and quickly withdrawn as they move to their next successive position.

The timing and synchronization of these relatively movable instrumentalities is such to insure the proper spillover of the saturant on the end shiplapped edges 57-58 without interrupting or intermittently operating the conveyor 69 in that more production is available and there is less wear with the continuous operation thereof, although the recipro'cable carriages 35-36 momentarily stop in the extreme ends of their travel while reversing their movement. An elongated horizontal chain casing 139' extends through the housing 10 so that the saturant drip to the vat 18 will not lodge on the chain 139. It will be noted that the conveyor 69 travels in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figures 3 and and the panels 59 are fed thereto over an endless belt 143 that has linear movement to the right (viewed from Figure 3) over con- 8 veyor rollers 144-145. The conveyor rollers 144-145 are mounted on stub shafts 146-147 journaled in bearing brackets 148-149, and the timing is such that each row of the panel supporting elments 98 on the conveyor 69 receives a panel 59 from the feeder 152.

The bearing bracket 148 is fixed to a substantially rectangular and horizontally disposed conveyor frame 150 that extends into a cascading housing 10 to displace the panels 59 through the medium of the endless conveyor belt 143 for disposition on the horizontally extending rods 98 carried by Ihe cascading conveyor 69. The speed of the endless conveyor belt 143 is such as to feed approximately forty-eight panels per minute in timed synchronization with the linear movement of the cascading conveyor 69 so that each set of three rods 98 thereon will receive a panel 59 without any manual transposing by an attendant. The panels 59 are fed from a hopper 151 (Figure 3) which comprises part of a panel feeder 152 that receives the panels from a shiplapper machine (not shown). The feeder 152 may be of any suitable or standard construction and does not comprise any part of the teachings of the present invention. The shiplapping device 152 provides the opposite and reversed shiplapped edges 57-58 and 60-61 on the panels 59 in the manner well known in the art, and these are discharged to the feeder 152 in stacked relation for confinement in the hopper 151 thereof.

The hopper 151 of the feeder 152 has an open bottom and the shiplapped panels 59 are supported by a pair of endless chains 153 that extend over sprockets 154-155 carried by the stub shaft 147 and a horizontally aligned and spaced stub shaft 156 journaled in bearing brackets 157 carried by the vertical frame 158 of the shiplapper 152. The endless chains 153 are equipped with selectively spaced pusher bars 153', and linear movement is imparted to the upper stretches of the endless chains 153 to displace the pusher bars 153' toward the right (viewed from Figure 3) by rotating the shaft 147 through the medium of a sprocket wheel 159 to which a chain 160 is geared at one end and to a sprocket 161 at the other driving end. The sprocket 161 is fixed to a shaft 162 that constitutes part of a speed reducer 163 that is of any suitable or standard construction. The speed reducer .163 has an input shaft 164 operatively connected thereto to carry a sprocket 165 to which a chain 166 is geared for meshing engagement with a sprocket 167. The sprocket 167 is carried by a long horizontal shaft 168 that carries another sprocket (not shown) for meshing engagement with the sprocket chain 142 that imparts rotation to the shaft 76 comprising the driver for the cascading conveyor 69 that moves in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 3).

With this arrangement, the panel feeder 152 is synchronized in timed relation for the operation of the cascading conveyor 69, and the latter is synchronized in timed relation with the reciprocations of the carriages 35-36 which cause the weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54 to approach and recede relative to each other in a manner and timed as described supra. It should be noted that the speed reducer 163 is mounted on a cross member 169 that is carried by vertical standards 170-171 comprising part of the frame for supporting the horizontal endless conveyor frame 150 and the feeder vertical frame 158 (Figure 3). It will thus be apparent that the opposite and reversed shiplapped edges 57-58 and 60-61 of the panels 59 will receive an initial impregnation of saturant as the panels leave the shiplapper 152 and transverse the interior of the housing 10 through the medium of the cascading conveyor 69 that presents the shiplapped panel edges 57-58 and 60-61 to the flow of saturant from the weirs 62-63-64 and 65-66-67 as well as the reciprocable weirs 49-50-51 and 52-53-54.

The flow of the saturant from these weirs will have a cascading effect by reason of the flow from the uppermost panels on the conveyor 69 over the successively lower panels thereon until the saturant impregnates these edges and the excess flows therefrom into the collecting housing vat 18. During the descent of the cascadingconveyor 69, an endless horizontal conveyor belt 170 is driven in a clockwise direction over rollers 171 and 172 supported by shafts 173-174 journaled in bearings 175-176 (Figure 6). The bearing brackets 175-176 are fixed to a horizontal and substantially rectangular conveyor frame 177 carried by vertical standards 178-179 supported on the same floor surface 17 which supports the cascading housing 10. The endless conveyor belt 170 is driven by a sprocket 180 fixed to the shaft 174 to mesh with a chain 181 that engages a pinion 182 fixed to the output shaft 183 of a speed reducer 184. The input shaft 185 of the speed reducer 184 carries a sprocket wheel 186 that meshes with a chain 187 which in turn engages a sprocket 188 carried for rotation by an extension 189 (Figure 6) of the shaft 168 (Figure 3). With this arrangement, the endless transfer conveyor 170 will operate in timed unison with the cascading conveyor 69 to receive the panels 59 with their shiplapped edges impregnated with the saturant for transfer to an intermediate roller 190 carried by a shaft 191 that is journaled to the bearing bracket 192 fixed to the vertical standard 179 (Figure 6).

The roller 190 is provided with an endless belt 193 that extends into a horizontal panel saturating housing 194 wherein a substantial volume of saturant 195 is confined for the passage of an endless panel conveyor 196 of any suitable or standard construction. The panel conveyor 196 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction (viewed from Figure l) and since the impregnating housing 194 receives the entire panel for immersion into the saturant path 195, it will be apparent that the oppositely disposed shiplapped edges 57-58 and 60-61 receive a double impregnation of the saturant while the body thereof receives its first impregnation. This provides for increased rigidity and strength in the region of the shiplapped edges of the shiplapped edges 57-58 in areas where such strength and imperviousness to moisture and climatic conditions is important and most needed. This accomplishes increased strength and imperviousness to moisture along the important shiplapped edges 57-58 and 60-61 without requiring an appreciable increased amount of saturant and only increasing the weight of the panels 59 to a negligible extent by reason of the doubled saturation and impregnation of the vital edges 57-58 and 60-61 that are rendered more durable and therefore will stand the elements more effectively as well as eliminate much of the damage in transit that ordinarily occurs in handling shiplapped panels 59.

The totally impregnated panels 59 leave the saturator 194 and are discharged onto a horizontal endless conveyor 197 which transfers the panels 59 through confronting pressure rollers 198-199 to squeeze surplus saturant therefrom. The pressure rollers 198-199 transfer the panels to another horizontal endless conveyor 200 (Figure 1) for displacement into a baking unit 201 that is provided with a similarly constructed panel conveyor 202 in a manner well known in the art. The baking oven 201 dries the saturant to provide a hard rigid surface on the panels 59 which is then transferred therefrom to another horizontal conveyor 203 for transfer to a vertical cooling tower 204. The vertical cooling tower 204 is provided with a panel supporting and transferring conveyor 205 to slowly pass the panels through an extended path within the open air cooling tower 204 that constitutes an air dryer and cooling unit of standard and known construction. During the descent of the cooling conveyor 205, the panels are discharged therefrom in a manner described in conjunction with the preceding cascading, impregnating, and baking units 10, 194, 201, and 204, respectively, to present the finished and highly improved insulating siding panels for packaging, storage, and shipping to their desired destination.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that an improved method of and apparatus for providing insulating siding with reinforced shiplapped edges that are fortified with an additional impregnation af saturant to effect greater imperviousness to moisture, providing more rigidity, increase strength to the shiplapped edges, and provides much improved insulating siding panels without appreciably increasing the cost of production or the weight which is an important consideration.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it must be understood that the invention is capable of considerable variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character mentioned for coating and reinforcing panel edges, the combination with an endless inclined conveyor, means on said conveyor to support panels in superposed relation so that their edges protrude relative to each other, a plurality of spaced weirs along the path of travel of said conveyor to successively cascade separate streams of liquid saturant over the protruding edges of said panels, another conveyor traversing a saturant reservoir, and means for transferring said panels from said inclined conveyor to said last named conveyor to displace said panels through the saturant reservoir.

2. In a device of the character mentioned for coating and reinforcing panel edges, the combinations with an endless inclined conveyor, means on said conveyor to support panels in superposed relation so that their edges protrude relative to each other, a plurality of superposed weirs along the path of travel of said conveyor to successively cascade separate streams of liquid saturant over the protruding edges of said panels, another conveyor traversing a saturant reservoir, means for transferring said panels from said inclined conveyor to said last named conveyor to displace said panels through the saturant reservoir, and a drying oven for receiving the panels from said saturant reservoir for baking and drying the saturant in said panels.

3. In a device of the character mentioned for coating and reinforcing panel edges, the combinations with an endless inclined conveyor, means on said conveyor to support panels in superposed relation so that their edges protrude relative to each other, a plurality of superposed weirs along the path of travel of said conveyor to successively cascade separate streams of liquid saturant over the protruding edges of said panels, another conveyor traversing a saturant reservoir, means for transferring said panels from said inclined conveyor to said last named conveyor to displace said panels through the saturant reservoir, a drying oven for receiving the panels from said saturant reservoir for baking and drying the saturant in said panels, and a cooling chamber for receiving said baked and dried panels to reduce their temperature to normal room temperatures preparatory to packing.

4. In a device of the character mentioned for coating and reinforcing panel edges, the combination with an endless inclined conveyor, means on said conveyor to support panels in superposed relation so that their edges protrude relative to each other, a plurality of superposed weirs along the path of travel of said conveyor to successively cascade separate streams of liquid saturant over the protruding edges of said panels, another conveyor traversing a saturant reservoir, means for transferring said panels from said inclined conveyor to said last named conveyor to displace said panels through the saturant reservoir, a drying oven for receiving the panels from said saturant reservoir for baking and drying the saturant in said panels, and a vertically disposed endless conveyor equipped cooling chamber for receiving said baked and dried panels to reduce their temperature to normal room temperature preparatory to packing.

5. In a device of the character mentioned for coating and reinforcing panel edges, the combination with an endless inclined conveyor, means on said conveyor to support panels in superposed relation so that their edges protrude relative to each other, a plurality of superposed weirs along the path of travel of said conveyor to successively cascade separate streams of liquid saturant over the protruding edges of said panels, another conveyor traversing a saturant reservoir, means for transferring said panels from said inclined conveyor to said last named conveyor to displace said panels through the saturant reservoir, a horizontal endless conveyor equipped drying oven for receiving the panels from said saturant reservoir for baking and drying the saturant in said panels, and a vertically disposed endless conveyor equipped cooling chamber for receiving said baked and dried panels to reduce their temperature to normal room temperatures preparatory to packing.

6. In a device of the character mentioned for coating and reinforcing panel edges, the combination with an endless inclined conveyor, means on said conveyor to support panels in superposed relation so that their edges protrude relative to each other, a plurality of superposed wiers spaced along the ascent and descent stretches of said inclined conveyor to cascade separate streams of liquid saturant over the protruding edges of said panels, another conveyor traversing a saturant reservoir, and means for transferring said panels from said inclined conveyor to said last named conveyor to displace said panels through the saturant reservoir.

7. In a device of the character mentioned for coating and reinforcing panel edges, the combination with an endless inclined conveyor, means on said conveyor to support panels in superposed relation so that their edges protrude relative to each other, a plurality of superposed wiers spaced along the ascent and descent stretches of said inconveyor to cascade separate streams of liquid saturant along the ascent and descent stretches of said inclined over the protruding edges of said panels, another conveyor traversing a saturant reservoir, means for transferring said panels from said inclined conveyor to said last named conveyor to displace said panels through the saturant reservoir, and a drying oven for receiving the panels from said saturant reservoir for baking and drying the saturant in said panels.

8. In a device of the character mentioned for coating and reinforcing panel edges, the combination with an endless inclined conveyor, means on said conveyor to support panels in superposed relation so that their edges protrude relative to each other, a plurality of superposed wiers, positioned in a path along the front and rear edges of panels carried by the inclined conveyor, reciprocable wiers positioned in a path along the ends of panels carr by said inclined conveyor, said \viers serving to casr 12 cade liquid saturant over the protruding edges of said panels, another conveyor traversing a saturant reservoir, and means for transferring said panels from said inclined conveyor to said last named conveyor to displace said panels through the saturant reservoir.

9. In a device of the character mentioned for coating and reinforcing panel edges, the combination with an endless inclined conveyor, means on said conveyor to support panels in superposed relation so that their edges protrude relative to each other, a plurality of superposed wiers positioned in a path along the front and rear edges of panels carried by the inclined conveyor, reciprocable wiers positioned in a path along the ends of panels carried by said inclined conveyor, said wiers serving to cascade liquid saturant over the protruding edges of said panels, another conveyor traversing a saturant reservoir, means for trans ferring said panels from said inclined conveyor to said last named conveyor to displace said panels through the saturant reservoir, and a drying oven for receiving the panels from said saturant reservoir for baking and drying the saturant in said panels.

10. In a device of the character mentioned for coating and reinforcing panel edges, the combination with an endless inclined conveyor, means on said conveyor to support panels in superposed relation so that their edges protrude relative to each other, a plurality of superposed wiers positioned in a path along the front and rear edges of panels carried by the inclined conveyor, reciprocable wiers positioned in a path along the ends of panels carried by said inclined conveyor, said wiers serving to cascade liquid saturant over the protruding edges of said panels, another conveyor traversing a saturant reservoir, means for transferring said panels from said inclined conveyor to said last named conveyor to displace said panels through the saturant reservoir, a drying oven for receiving the panels from said saturant reservoir for baking and drying the saturant in said panels, and a cooling chamber for receiving said baked and dried panels to reduce their temperature to normal room temperatures preparatory to packing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,461,760 Morinsky July 17, 1923 1,781,877 Levin Nov. 18, 1930 1,967,856 Beckman July 24, 1934 2,000,226 Fry May 7, 1935 2,011,098 Wettlaufer Aug. 13, 1935 2,036,329 Giles Apr. 7, 1936 2,133,390 Kotcher Oct. 18, 1938 2,512,371 OReilly June 20, 1950 

